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Cadillac

Well, it's certainly been a busy past couple of days for GM's vice chairman and marketing head, Bob Lutz. He was announced as a member of the Opel supervisory board after GM decided to hold onto its German division, and then went on to make some announcements of his own.

It started with what seemed to be a passing comment on Fox News about the Chevrolet Volt: Lutz said that a high-performance version wearing the Bowtie division's "SS" moniker was not out of the realm of possibility.

And since then, Lutz has provided a steady stream of information on GM's new product plans. For example, after the 2011 Buick Regal was announced, he shared another "possibility." That would be the potential debut of a high-performance all-wheel-drive Buick Regal GS, packing a turbocharged V-6 that would be good for 300+ hp. Opel already produces a similarly equipped version of its Insignia, the car on which the Regal is based, so it wouldn't be much of an engineering challenge.

The move would also give the Buick a better top-end competitor for its segment. As I mentioned in a recent column, the current base-level Buick Regal is a bit underpowered compared to the base Acura TSX (called out by name as a Regal rival), and at the next rung on the ladder, the turbocharged up-level Regal gives away some 60 hp to the up-level TSX. Now, in my humble opinion, the proactive thing to do would have been to make sure the Regal trumped the Acura in terms of fuel efficiency at each trim level, and then use that as the vehicle's differentiator.

But based on the Regal's initial specs, that's not going to happen. Enter the Regal GS, then, as a way for Buick to at least out-horsepower the Acura.

Lutz also leaked some info about the next-generation Chevrolet Impala. The actual details weren't all that exciting: Lutz said the new Impala would remain front-wheel drive and would be designed to holster GM's hybrid-drive system. More notable was the reminder that Chevrolet's full-size sedan isn't going to be replaced until the 2014 model year — which would mean going nearly a decade without a major redesign.

The current Impala remains a vital part of the Chevrolet portfolio. It's the best-selling car in the Chevy lineup and, despite it's age, it's still a credible competitor to its top rival, the all-new Ford Taurus. The Impala offers a lower sticker price and ever-so-slightly better fuel economy, and despite the Ford's rep for being a big car, the Impala betters the Taurus, albeit barely, in terms of front head room and front leg room. And, on the sales front, the Impala more than doubled the Ford's October numbers.

When you consider where the Impala stands currently, and the fact that the large family sedan segment as a whole should see some growth from customers who are abandoning SUVs and trucks, I would have thought the next-gen Impala would be a higher priority at GM.

Of course, Bob Lutz isn't exactly known for his love of staid front-wheel-drive sedans. Which may explain the earlier launch date — and higher enthusiasm level — for the Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon.

GM views the CTS lineup as its answer to the BMW 3 Series, and not just in terms of vehicle performance. The Bavarians currently offer 16 — yes, 16 — different 3 Series variations here in the U.S., including coupes, wagons, sedans and convertibles, in both rear- and all-wheel drive. With the addition of the CTS-V Sport Wagon, Cadillac will have an answer for each one, except the 3 Series diesel and convertibles.

I'm not so sure we'll be seeing a CTS diesel any time soon, but I won't be at all surprised if GM's on-again, off-again CTS convertible coupe shows up at the Detroit auto show.

Now, Lutz also mentioned that a Regal sport wagon had been discussed — and apparently shelved — during development of the new Buick. I read this increased interest in station wagons as a potentially winning move for GM, as the vehicles provide yet another important SUV alternative.

European OEMs like BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Volkswagen all support station wagons, and the upcoming launch of the Acura TSX Sport Wagon — a true wagon, not a Honda Crosstour/Acura ZDX mongrel — shows at least one of the Japanese companies also is ready to jump on the station wagon bandwagon.

On the other hand, some notable OEMs, like Ford, Hyundai and Kia, aren't yet showing much interest in the segment. And that's where GM can fit in. I see the demand for station wagons growing significantly in the future, and it certainly behooves GM to get in on the action early.

After all, Bob Lutz has to retire some time, doesn't he?

Select photos via General Motors

Ever since Cadillac introduced the Converj concept vehicle in Detroit earlier this year, there have been rumors for and against the car’s production potential. Built off the same Voltec platform as the highly anticipated Chevrolet Volt, a production version of the Cadillac Converj could give the luxury automaker a major advantage over Lexus and its ever-growing number of hybrid cars and crossovers. If the Cadillac Converj extended range electric vehicle (E-REV) does go into production, it would likely be the first electric vehicle offered by a luxury automaker without sacrificing the styling, luxury and performance expected from a Cadillac.

Like the Volt, the Converj will have an electric-only range of up to 40 miles thanks to its T-shaped, 16-kWh lithium ion battery pack mounted in the middle of the car. After 40 miles, the car can either be plugged into an electrical outlet (120 volts or 240 volts) or it can rely on the gasoline engine as a range-extending generator. Charging from an outlet can be done is as quick as three hours, while the engine would help extend the range to “hundreds of miles” on a single tank of gasoline or E-85. Based on specifications of the Converj concept, the electric generating engine will be a 1.4-liter flex-fuel inline-4, while the electric drive motor delivers 161 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels. Cadillac says that the top speed will be limited to 100 miles per hour. With many of its rival automakers adding hybrid or diesel-powered vehicles to increase their overall efficiency, the addition of the Cadillac Converj would give GM’s luxury division a unique complement to the only other green vehicle in its lineup, the Cadillac Escalade Two-Mode Hybrid.

While the four-door Chevy Volt sports a more versatile hatchback layout, the Cadillac Converj has a two-door configuration with a conventional trunk opening. The design of the concept vehicle balances contemporary Cadillac styling with optimal aerodynamics. The front of the Converj looks very similar to the highly influential 2003 Cadillac Sixteen Concept, while the rest of the car has looks that resemble a smaller version of the upcoming Cadillac CTS Coupe. Aerodynamic improvements include a fully under vehicle belly pan, minimal grille openings for reduced drag, unique wheels that improve air flow along the sides of the car and low-profile side mirrors to further reduce drag. Finally, the roof of the Converj concept is covered in solar panels to help generate additional juice for the batteries.

Inside, the positioning of the battery pack along the center of the car necessitates a 2+2 passenger configuration like the Volt, but the Converj offers a more conceptual interior with contrasting black leather and white suede interior with polished aluminum and wood trim accents. The production model will offer a luxurious cabin expected from a Cadillac, but it is likely to be toned down some compared to the concept car. We expect standard equipment to include navigation, infotainment and a premium audio system to help justify the higher cost of the Converj.

If GM does go ahead with the production of the Cadillac Converj, we’d expect it to go on sale a couple years after the Volt possibly as a 2014 model. With the Chevy Volt rumored to have a starting MSRP around $40,000 (without tax credits), the Cadillac Converj would likely come with pricing well over the $60,000 mark. GM is already a quartet of entry-level E-REVs from Chevrolet, Opel, Holden and Vauxhall, but the higher price of the luxurious Cadillac E-REV will help absorb more of the research and production costs associated with the Voltec platform.